Motion picture editing apparatus and method, and computer program

ABSTRACT

A moving image editing device ( 100 ) includes a moving image analysis element ( 200 ) for analyzing a moving image to obtain the feature of the moving image, a specifying element ( 310 ) capable of specifying the feature of a scene to be identified as an editing target in the moving image, an identifying element ( 320 ) for identifying a scene having the feature matching the specified feature in the moving image as the editing target, and a presenting element ( 400 ) for presenting scene information including the start and ending time of the identified scene in the moving image.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a motion picture editing apparatus forand method of editing a motion picture, such as video, recorded by avideo camera or the like, as well as a computer program which makes acomputer function as such a motion picture editing apparatus.

BACKGROUND ART

An operation of editing video filmed or recorded by a video camera iswidely performed not only by experts but also by the general public. Thevideo editing is generally performed by using equipment for exclusiveuse or a personal computer after the recording or filming.

In the video editing, such operations are performed that the recordedvideo is reproduced and that the video is cut at the start point and endpoint of an unnecessary scene (or a scene a user desires to save) whilethe a user confirms the content of the video to delete the unnecessaryscene. In such operations, the user needs to confirm almost all thevideo content. Thus, particularly if the video time is long, such asover several ten minutes or 1 hour, a time and energy or effort requiredfor the operations increase, which is problematic. This almost orcompletely discourages the user from performing the video editing, andthe user tends to save the recorded video as it is on a recordingmedium, such as a digital video tape, a DVD, and a hard disk. Theas-recorded video tends to include the unnecessary scene, such as ascene failing to be recorded and a scene needlessly recorded. Thus, thefact that the as-recorded video is saved on the recording medium alsoleads to such problems that the recording medium is wasted and that therecording medium is not reused.

Therefore, for example, a patent document 1 discloses a technology ofautomatically deleting the unnecessary scene, such as an unsightly scenecaused by an operation error, camera shake, and the like.

-   Patent document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No.    H05-236411

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION Subject to be Solved by the Invention

In the technology disclosed in the patent document 1, however, since theunnecessary scene is automatically deleted, if the editing result isdifferent from the user's will, such as a case where the unnecessaryscene remains in the editing result and a case where an important sceneis deleted, the user has to start the editing over. In addition, theoperation required for the re-editing is almost the same as theoperation required for the first editing, which is problematic. Thus,even if such an operation is repeated, there is a possibility that theuser cannot obtain the desired editing result. Even if the user canobtain the desired editing result, the time and energy or effortrequired for the operation repeated until the user obtains the desiredediting result likely increase.

In view of the aforementioned problems, it is therefore an object of thepresent invention to provide, for example, a motion picture editingapparatus and method which enables the user to easily perform theediting operation and the confirmation operation, as well as a computerprogram which makes a computer function as such a motion picture editingapparatus.

Means for Solving the Subject

The above object of the present invention can be achieved by a motionpicture editing apparatus provided with: a motion picture analyzingdevice for analyzing a motion picture, thereby obtaining characteristicsof the motion picture; a specifying device capable of specifyingcharacteristics of a scene to be identified as an editing target, of themotion picture; an identifying device for identifying a scene withcharacteristics which match the specified characteristics of the motionpicture, as the editing target; and a presenting device for presentingscene information including start and end time points of the identifiedscene of the motion picture.

According to the motion picture editing apparatus of the presentinvention, in the editing of the motion picture, firstly, the motionpicture is analyzed by the motion picture analyzing device, therebyobtaining the characteristics of the motion picture. Here, the“characteristics of the motion picture” in the present invention meansthe characteristics of the motion picture caused by the filming orrecording, such as a camera shake, zoom speed, and panning variation(i.e. variation in a horizontal direction of the motion picturegenerated in the filming or recording, with a video camera intentionallyshaking in the horizontal direction), included in the motion picturefilmed or recorded by a video camera or the like. More specifically, themotion picture analyzing device analyzes the characteristics of each ofa plurality of frames which constitute the motion picture, for example,such as chromatic characteristics, luminance characteristics, motioncharacteristics, and spatial frequency characteristics. Incidentally,the obtained characteristics of the motion picture are recorded in amemory device owned by the motion picture analyzing device or externallyprovided.

Then, if the characteristics of the scene to be identified as theediting target are specified by the specifying device, the scene withthe characteristics which match the specified characteristics isidentified by the identifying device. In other words, for example, if itis specified as the characteristics of the scene to be identified thatthe “camera shake” is greater than or equal to a predetermined thresholdvalue from a user by using the specifying device, the identifying deviceidentifies a scene in which the “camera shake” is greater than or equalto the predetermined threshold value, from a plurality of scenesincluded in the motion picture, on the basis of the characteristics ofthe motion picture obtained by the motion picture analyzing device.Thus, the user can intuitively or collectively identify the editingtarget by specifying the characteristics of the scene the user desiresto identify as the editing target by using the specifying device.

Then, the scene information including the start and end time points ofthe scene identified by the identifying device is presented by thepresenting device. Here, the “scene information” of the presentinvention means information for identifying the scene, which includesthe start time point at which the scene starts and the end time point atwhich the scene ends. More specifically, the presenting device presentsthe scene information by graphically displaying the start and end timepoints of the identified scene on the screen of the displaying device.Thus, the user can easily perform an operation of confirming the sceneidentified as the editing target by looking at the presented sceneinformation.

As explained above, according to the motion picture editing apparatus ofthe present invention, the user can intuitively or collectively identifythe editing target by specifying the characteristics of the scene theuser desires to identify as the editing target by using the specifyingdevice. Moreover, the user can easily perform the operation ofconfirming the scene identified as the editing target by looking at thepresented scene information. As a result, it is possible to reduce thetime and energy or effort required for the user's confirmationoperation; namely, the user can easily perform the confirmationoperation.

In one aspect of the motion picture editing apparatus of the presentinvention, the motion picture analyzing device is provided with at leastone of characteristic analyzing devices which are: a chromaticcharacteristic analyzing device for analyzing chromatic characteristicsin each of a plurality of frames which constitute the motion picture; aluminance characteristic analyzing device for analyzing luminancecharacteristics in each of the plurality of frames which constitute themotion picture; a motion characteristic analyzing device for analyzingmotion characteristics in each of the plurality of frames whichconstitute the motion picture; and a spatial frequency characteristicanalyzing device for analyzing spatial frequency characteristics in eachof the plurality of frames which constitute the motion picture.

According to this aspect, the chromatic characteristic analyzing deviceanalyzes chromatic characteristics in each frame (e.g. a dominant color,color ratio, or the like in each frame). The luminance characteristicanalyzing device analyzes luminance characteristics in each frame (e.g.average brightness, maximum brightness, minimum brightness or the likein each frame). The motion characteristic analyzing device analyzesmotion characteristics in each frame (e.g. the distribution of overallor local motion vectors between the frame and frames arranged in tandem.The spatial frequency characteristic analyzing device analyzes spatialfrequency characteristics in each frame (e.g. the distribution offrequency components in each frame by FFT (Fast Fourier Transform) orDCT (Discrete Cosine Transform). The motion picture analyzing device hasat least one of the characteristic analyzing devices which are thechromatic characteristic analyzing device, the luminance characteristicanalyzing device, the motion characteristic analyzing device, and thespatial frequency characteristic analyzing device, so that it cancertainly obtain the characteristics of the motion picture.

In another aspect of the motion picture editing apparatus of the presentinvention, the specifying device can specify a type and level of thecharacteristics of the scene to be identified, and the identifyingdevice judges whether or not the characteristics of the specified typematch the specified characteristics on the basis of the specified level.

According to this aspect, the user can identify the scene to beidentified as the editing target by specifying the type of thecharacteristics (e.g. a camera shake, zoom speed, panning variation, orthe like) and its level (i.e. the magnitude of a characteristic amountindicating the extent of the characteristics, such as large, medium, andsmall).

In another aspect of the motion picture editing apparatus of the presentinvention, it is further provided with: a history holding device forholding a history of the scene information associated with theidentified scene; and a comparing device for comparing at least twopieces of scene information included in the held history, therebyextracting a different portion in which the at least two pieces of sceneinformation are different from each other or a common portion in whichthe at least two pieces of scene information are common with each other,the presenting device further presenting the different portion or thecommon portion.

According to this aspect, the history holding device holds the historyof the scene information associated with the scene identified by theidentifying device. In other words, the history holding device recordsthe scene information including the start and end time points of theidentified scene into a memory device owned by the history holdingdevice or externally provided, every time the scene is identified by theidentifying device. In other words, every time the user specifies thecharacteristics of the scene to be identified as the editing target byusing the specifying device (i.e. every time the user performs oneediting operation), the scene which matches the specifiedcharacteristics is identified by the identifying device and the sceneinformation associated with the identified scene is held by the historyholding device.

The comparing device compares at least two pieces of scene informationspecified by the user from among a plurality of pieces of sceneinformation included in the held history, thereby extracting thedifferent portion or common portion between the at least two pieces ofscene information. In other words, for example, a difference between thescene information associated with the scene identified when the userperforms the first editing operation (i.e. when the user firstlyspecifies the characteristics by using the specifying device) and thescene information associated with the scene identified when the userperforms the second editing operation (i.e. when the user secondlyspecifies the characteristics by using the specifying device) isextracted by the comparing device.

The different portion or common portion extracted in this manner ispresented to the user by the presenting device. Thus, the user canrecognize the different portion or common portion. Therefore, the usercan easily determine the editing operation to be performed next in orderto obtain the user's desired editing result, on the basis of thedifferent portion or common portion. As a result, the user can performthe editing operation, more easily.

In another aspect of the motion picture editing apparatus of the presentinvention, the presenting deice has a reproducing device for reproducingthe identified scene.

According to this aspect, the user can confirm the content of theidentified scene. Thus, the user can easily judge whether or not theidentified scene is the user's desired scene.

In an aspect in which the history holding device and the comparingdevice are further provided, as described above, the presenting deicemay have a reproducing device for reproducing a scene corresponding tothe different portion or the common portion.

In this case, the user can confirm the content of the different portionor common portion. Thus, the user can easily determine the editingoperation to be performed next in order to obtain the user's desiredediting result, for example, by confirming only the content of thedifferent portion between the two pieces of scene information. Here, inparticular, in comparison with a case where all the content of theediting result (e.g. the motion picture after automatically deleting anunnecessary scene) is confirmed in each editing operation (e.g. everytime the unnecessary scene is automatically deleted from the originalmotion picture), it is possible to reduce a wasteful confirmationoperation, and it is possible to certainly reduce the time and energy oreffort required for the editing operation until the user obtains thedesired editing result.

Incidentally, the reproducing device may selectively reproduce oneportion of the scene corresponding to the different portion or commonportion in accordance with the user's instruction.

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by amotion picture editing method provided with: a motion picture analyzingprocess of analyzing a motion picture, thereby obtaining characteristicsof the motion picture; a specifying process of specifyingcharacteristics of a scene to be identified as an editing target, of themotion picture; an identifying process of identifying a scene withcharacteristics which match the specified characteristics of the motionpicture, as the editing target; and a presenting process of presentingscene information including start and end time points of the identifiedscene of the motion picture.

According to the motion picture editing method of the present invention,it is possible to receive the same various effects as those received bythe aforementioned motion picture editing apparatus of the presentinvention.

Incidentally, the motion picture editing method of the present inventioncan also adopt the same various aspects as those of the aforementionedmotion picture editing apparatus of the present invention.

The above object of the present invention can be also achieved by acomputer program for making a computer function as: a motion pictureanalyzing device for analyzing a motion picture, thereby obtainingcharacteristics of the motion picture; a specifying device capable ofspecifying characteristics of a scene to be identified as an editingtarget, of the motion picture; an identifying device for identifying ascene with characteristics which match the specified characteristics ofthe motion picture, as the editing target; and a presenting device forpresenting scene information including start and end time points of theidentified scene of the motion picture.

According to the computer program of the present invention, theaforementioned motion picture editing apparatus of the present inventioncan be relatively easily realized as a computer provided in the motionpicture editing apparatus reads and executes the computer program from aprogram storage device, such as a ROM, a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM, and a harddisk, or as it executes the computer program after downloading theprogram through a communication device. This enables the user to easilyperform the editing operation and the confirmation operation, as in theaforementioned motion picture editing apparatus of the present invention

Incidentally, the computer program of the present invention can alsoadopt the same various aspects as those of the aforementioned motionpicture editing apparatus of the present invention.

As explained in detail above, according to the motion picture editingapparatus of the present invention, it is provided with the motionpicture analyzing device, the specifying device, the identifying device,and the present device. According to the motion picture editing methodof the present invention, it is provided with the motion pictureanalyzing process, the specifying process, the identifying process, andthe present process. Thus, the user can easily perform the editingoperation and the confirmation operation. According to the computerprogram of the present invention, it makes a computer function as themotion picture analyzing device, the specifying device, the identifyingdevice, and the present device. Thus, the aforementioned motion pictureediting apparatus can be constructed, relatively easily.

The operation and other advantages of the present invention will becomemore apparent from the embodiment explained below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram conceptually showing the structure of a motionpicture editing apparatus in a first embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual view conceptually showing the format ofcharacteristic data in the first embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a view showing a GUI in a characteristic specification devicein the first embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a view with the same concept as in FIG. 3 in a modifiedexample.

FIG. 5 is conceptual view conceptually showing one example of controldata in the first embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual view conceptually showing one example of ahistory of scene information held by a history holding device in thefirst embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a view showing one example of display by an editing resultdisplay device in the first embodiment.

FIG. 8 is a flowchart conceptually showing the operations of the motionpicture editing apparatus in the first embodiment.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart conceptually showing the operations of the motionpicture editing apparatus in the first embodiment.

FIG. 10 are views showing one example of an editing result displayed bythe editing result display device when a user edits video data by usingthe motion picture editing apparatus in the first embodiment.

FIG. 11 are views showing one example of the editing result displayed bythe editing result display device when the user edits video data byusing the motion picture editing apparatus in the first embodiment.

FIG. 12 are views showing one example of the editing result displayed bythe editing result display device when the user edits video data byusing the motion picture editing apparatus in the first embodiment.

FIG. 13 are views showing one example of the editing result displayed bythe editing result display device when the user edits video data byusing the motion picture editing apparatus in the first embodiment.

FIG. 14 are views showing one example of the editing result displayed bythe editing result display device when the user edits video data byusing the motion picture editing apparatus in the first embodiment.

FIG. 15 are views showing one example of the editing result displayed bythe editing result display device when the user edits video data byusing the motion picture editing apparatus in the first embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE CODES

-   100 video data storage device-   200 video analysis device-   210 time information extraction device-   220 chromatic characteristic analysis device-   230 luminance characteristic analysis device-   240 motion characteristic analysis device-   250 spatial frequency characteristic analysis device-   260 characteristic data generation device-   270 characteristic data storage device-   300 editing control device-   310 characteristic specification device-   320 scene identification device-   330 history holding device-   340 history comparison device-   400 editing result confirmation device-   410 editing result display device-   420 reproduction device

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be explainedwith reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

A motion picture editing apparatus in a first embodiment will beexplained.

Firstly, the structure of the motion picture editing apparatus in thefirst embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is ablock diagram conceptually showing the structure of the motion pictureediting apparatus in the first embodiment.

In FIG. 1, a motion picture editing apparatus 10 in the embodiment is anapparatus for editing data on video (i.e. motion picture) recorded by avideo camera or the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, the motion picture editing apparatus 10 is providedwith a video data storage device 100, a video analysis device 200, anediting control device 300, and an editing result confirmation device400.

The video data storage device 100 has the data inputted, wherein thedata is about video recorded by the video camera or the like(hereinafter referred to as “video data”), and it accumulates theinputted video data. The video data storage device 100 includes arecording medium, such as a hard disk and a memory.

The video analysis device 200 is one example of the “motion pictureanalyzing device” of the present invention. The video analysis device200 has the video data inputted and analyzes the inputted video data,thereby obtaining the characteristics of the video data. Morespecifically, the video analysis device 200 has a time informationextraction device 210, a chromatic characteristic analysis device 220, aluminance characteristic analysis device 230, a motion characteristicanalysis device 240, a spatial frequency characteristic analysis device250, a characteristic data generation device 260, and a characteristicdata storage device 270.

The time information extraction device 210 extracts (or separates) timeinformation, such as a frame number and a time code, included in thevideo data.

The chromatic characteristic analysis device 220 analyzes thecharacteristics of color (i.e. chromatic characteristics) in each of theplurality of frames which constitute the video associated with the videodata. The chromatic characteristic analysis device 220 extracts, forexample, a dominant color and a color ratio in each frame, as thechromatic characteristics.

The luminance characteristic analysis device 230 analyzes thecharacteristics of brightness (i.e. luminance characteristics) in eachof the plurality of frames which constitute the video associated withthe video data. The luminance characteristic analysis device 230extracts, for example, average brightness, maximum brightness, andminimum brightness in each frame, as the luminance characteristics.

The motion characteristic analysis device 240 analyzes thecharacteristics of motion (i.e. motion characteristics) in each of theplurality of frames which constitute the video associated with the videodata. The motion characteristic analysis device 240 extracts, forexample, camera work information (i.e. a direction and a speed in whichthe video camera moves) and motion area information (i.e. the number,position, and dimensions of areas moving in the video) in each frame, asthe motion characteristics, by analyzing the distribution of overall orlocal motion vectors between the frame and frames arranged in tandem.

The spatial frequency characteristic analysis device 250 analyzes thecharacteristics of a spatial frequency (i.e. spatial frequencycharacteristics) in each of the plurality of frames which constitute thevideo associated with the video data. The spatial frequencycharacteristic analysis device 250 calculates a frequency component byFFT or DCT or the like in each of divisional domains to which each frameis divided, and it extracts low-frequency domain information (i.e. thenumber, position, and dimensions of domains having frequency componentsthat are lower than a predetermined frequency) and high-frequency domaininformation (i.e. the number, position, and dimensions of domains havingfrequency components that are higher than a predetermined frequency), asthe spatial frequency characteristics.

The characteristic data generation device 260 generates characteristicdata on the basis of the time information extracted by the timeinformation extraction device 210 and each of the analysis results (i.e.each of the extracted characteristics) obtained by the chromaticcharacteristic analysis device 220, the luminance characteristicanalysis device 230, the motion characteristic analysis device 240, andthe spatial frequency characteristic analysis device 250.

FIG. 2 is a conceptual view conceptually showing the format of thecharacteristic data in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 2, characteristic data 50 is generated by thecharacteristic data generation device 260 as the data in which theluminance characteristics, the chromatic characteristics, the camerawork information, the motion area information, the low-frequency domaininformation, and the high-frequency domain information are associatedwith respect to the frame number. In other words, the characteristicdata generation device 260 generates the characteristic data 50 byintegrating each of the analysis results analyzed by the chromaticcharacteristic analysis device 220, the luminance characteristicanalysis device 230, the motion characteristic analysis device 240, andthe spatial frequency characteristic analysis device 250, by a frameunit. More specifically, in an item 50A associated with the framenumber, there is recorded the frame number as the time informationextracted by the time information extraction device 210. In an item 50Bassociated with the luminance characteristics, there are recorded theaverage brightness, the maximum brightness, and the minimum brightnessextracted by the luminance characteristic analysis device 230. In anitem 50C associated with the chromatic characteristics, there isrecorded the dominant color extracted by the chromatic characteristicanalysis device 220. In an item 50D associated with the camera work,there is recorded the camera work information extracted by the motioncharacteristic analysis device 240. In an item 50F associate with thelow-frequency domain, there is recorded the low-frequency domaininformation extracted by the spatial frequency characteristic analysisdevice 250. In an item 50G associate with the high-frequency domain,there is recorded the high-frequency domain information extracted by thespatial frequency characteristic analysis device 250. By these, thecharacteristic data 50 is generated.

In FIG. 1 again, the characteristic data storage device 270 accumulatesthe characteristic data generated by the characteristic data generationdevice 260. The characteristic data storage device 270 includes arecording medium, such as a hard disk and a memory.

Incidentally, the video analysis device 200 may have the timeinformation inputted separated from the video data. In this case, thevideo analysis device 200 can be constructed not to have the timeinformation extraction device 210. Moreover, in addition to thechromatic characteristic analysis device 220, the luminancecharacteristic analysis device 230, the motion characteristic analysisdevice 240, and the spatial frequency characteristic analysis device250, another characteristic analyzing device for analyzing anothercharacteristic of the video may be added, so that an analysis result bythe other characteristic analyzing device may be included in thecharacteristic data. Moreover, a plurality of characteristic data may begenerated on the basis of each of the analysis results analyzed by thechromatic characteristic analysis device 220, the luminancecharacteristic analysis device 230, the motion characteristic analysisdevice 240, and the spatial frequency characteristic analysis device250. In other words, the characteristic data may not be integrated bythe frame unit.

In FIG. 1, the editing control device 300 has a characteristicspecification device 310, a scene identification device 320, a historyholding device 330, and a history comparison device 340.

The characteristic specification device 310 is constructed such that auser can specify the characteristics of a scene to be identified as anediting target, from the video associated with the video data. Thecharacteristic specification device 310 has a GUI (Graphical UserInterface) for the user to input the characteristics of the scene to bespecified as the editing target.

FIG. 3 is a view showing the GUI in the characteristic specificationdevice in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 3, the characteristic specification device 310 canselect at least one of “camera shake”, “zoom speed”, “panningvariation”, “blocked up shadow”, and “blurred area”, as the types of thecharacteristics of the scene to be identified as the editing target, bythe user inputting a check mark 77 in a check box 76 of a GUI 70. In theexample in FIG. 3, the “camera shake” and the “zoom speed” in each ofwhich the check mark 77 is inputted in the check box 76 are selected asthe types of the characteristics of the scene to be identified as theediting target. Moreover, the characteristic specification device 310can specify the level (or index value) of the characteristics of thescene to be identified as the editing target by the user operating alevel specification device 79 (i.e. displacing a level display device 79b relatively horizontally to a level scale 79 a).

Incidentally, the “blocked up shadow” is a criterial characteristic tojudge whether or not a scene backlighted in the filming is identified asthe editing target. The “blurred area” is a criterial characteristic tojudge whether or not a scene out of focus in the filming (i.e. blurredscene) is identified as the editing target.

The GUI 170 is provided with editing buttons 71 and 72. By the editingbutton 71 being pressed (or selected) by the user, video editing (thedeletion of the scene to be identified by the scene identificationdevice 320 in the embodiment) is performed. By the editing button 72being pressed by the user, the video editing most recently performed iscanceled.

As shown as a modified example in FIG. 4, the characteristicspecification device may have a GUI 80, instead of the aforementionedGUI 70 with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 4 is a view with the same conceptas in FIG. 3 in the modified example.

In other words, the characteristic specification device may specify thetype and level of the scene to be identified as the editing target bythe user inputting the level of the characteristics corresponding toeach of characteristic specification devices C1 to Cn (wherein n is anatural number) of the GUI 80 to respective one of the characteristicspecification devices C1 to Cn. By an editing button 81 being pressed bythe user, the video editing may be performed, and by an editing button82 being pressed by the user, the video editing most recently performedmay be canceled.

In FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 again, the characteristic specification device 310generates control data and outputs it to the scene identification device320 when the editing button 71 of the GUI 70 is pressed by the user.

FIG. 5 is conceptual view conceptually showing one example of thecontrol data in the first embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 5, control data 500 is provided with an item 500Aassociated with an editing type and an item 500B associated withcharacteristic information. The item 500A associated with the editingtype indicates the type of the editing specified by the user (i.e. theediting type). The item 500B associated with the characteristicinformation indicates information about the characteristics specified bythe user (i.e. the characteristic information), as the characteristicsof the scene to be identified as the editing target. The example in FIG.5 shows the control data generated when the editing button 71 is pressedby the user in FIG. 3. The control data 500 means that characteristicswhich are “the camera shake with a vibration of 8 or more, or the zoomwith a speed of 6 or more” are specified and that the editing type ofdeleting a scene with characteristics which match the specifiedcharacteristics is specified. Incidentally, “Delete” in the item 500Aassociated with the editing type means “scene deletion”, “cw=shake andVvar□8” in the item 500B associated with the characteristic informationmeans the camera shake with a variation of 8 or more, and “cw=Zoom andVave□6” means the zoom with a speed of 6 or more.

In FIG. 1 again, the scene identification device 320 identifies thescene with characteristics which match the characteristics specified bythe characteristics specification device 310, from the video associatedwith the video data. More specifically, the scene identification device320 identifies the scene with characteristics which match thecharacteristics specified by the characteristics specification device310, by searching for the characteristic data (refer to FIG. 2)accumulated in the characteristic data storage device 270 in accordancewith the characteristic information (refer to FIG. 5) included in thecontrol data inputted from the characteristic specification device 310.In other words, as a scene with the characteristics which match thecharacteristics of “the camera shake with a vibration of 8 or more”described with reference to FIG. 5, it identifies a scene which isprovided with frames having frame numbers that the type of the item 50Dassociated with the camera work in FIG. 2 is the “camera shake” and thata speed distribution is 8 or more. Moreover, as a scene with thecharacteristics which match the characteristics of “the zoom with aspeed of 6 or more” described with reference to FIG. 5, it identifies ascene which is provided with frames having frame numbers that the typeof the item 50D associated with the camera work in FIG. 2 is the “zoomand that an average speed is 6 or more.

Moreover, the scene identification device 320 generates sceneinformation including the start and end time points of the identifiedscene and outputs it to the history holding device 330 described later.

The history holding device 330 holds a history of the scene informationinputted from the scene identification device 320. The history holdingdevice 330 includes a recording medium, such as a hard disk and amemory.

FIG. 6 is a conceptual view conceptually showing one example of thehistory of the scene information held by the history holding device.

In FIG. 6, a history 650 of the scene information is provided with aplurality of pieces of scene information 600 (specifically, sceneinformation 600(1), 600(2), and so on). Each piece of scene informationis provided with an item 600A associated with an editing number, an item600E associated with an editing type, an item 600C associated with an INframe, an item 600D associated with an OUT frame, and an item 600Eassociated with characteristic information. The item 600A associatedwith the editing number is a number uniquely determined to distinguishthe specified order every time the characteristics of the scene to beidentified as the editing target are specified by the user (in otherwords, every time the control data is generated by the characteristicspecification device 310). The item 600B associated with the editingtype and the item 600E associated with the characteristic informationcorrespond to the item 500A associated with the editing type and theitem 500B associated with the characteristic information 500B in thecontrol data described above with reference to FIG. 5, respectively. Theitem 600C associated with the IN frame is the frame number of a startframe from which the scene identified by the scene identification device320 starts. The item 600D associated with the OUT frame is the framenumber of an end frame at which the scene identified by the sceneidentification device 320 ends. In the example in FIG. 6, the sceneinformation 600(1) shows that there are two scenes (two rows) which areidentified as the scene in which the item 600E associated with thecharacteristic information is “the camera shake with a vibration of 8 ormore” (also refer to FIG. 5) and in which the item 600B associated withthe editing type is “the scene deletion” (also refer to FIG. 5), by thefirst editing operation which is performed by the user and in which theitem 600A associated with the editing number is “1”. Moreover, the sceneinformation 600(1) shows that the frame number of the start frame of oneof the two scenes is 200 and the frame number of the end frame of theone scene is 400, and that the frame number of the start frame of theother scene is 900 and the frame number of the end frame of the otherscene is 1050. Moreover, the scene information 600(2) shows that thereare three scenes (three rows) which are identified as the scene in whichthe item 600E associated with the characteristic information is “thecamera shake with a vibration of 8 or more, or the zoon with a speed of6 or more” (also refer to FIG. 5) and in which the item 600B associatedwith the editing type is “the scene deletion” (also refer to FIG. 5), bythe second editing operation which is performed by the user and in whichthe item 600A associated with the editing number is “2”. Moreover, thescene information 600(2) shows that the frame number of the start frameof one of the three scenes is 200 and the frame number of the end frameof the one scene is 400, that the frame number of the start frame ofanother scene is 900 and the frame number of the end frame of the otherscene is 1050, and that the frame number of the start frame of theremaining scene is 600 and the frame number of the end frame of theremaining scene is 700.

In FIG. 1 again, the history comparison device 340 is adapted to compareat least two pieces of scene information included in the history of thescene information held in the history holding device 330, therebyextracting a different portion in which the pieces of scene informationare different from each other or a common portion in which the pieces ofscene information are common with each other.

In FIG. 6, for example, as the different portion between the sceneinformation 600(1) and the scene information 600(2), a portion with aframe number of the start frame of 600 and with a frame number of theend frame of 700, which is included in the scene information 600(2) andin which the item 600E associated with the characteristic information is“the zoom with a speed of 6 or more” (i.e. cw=Zoom and Vave□6), isextracted by the history comparison device 340. Alternatively, forexample, as the common portion between the scene information 600(1) andthe scene information 600(2), a portion with a frame number of the startframe of 200 and with a frame number of the end frame of 400 and aportion with a frame number of the start frame of 900 and with a framenumber of the end frame of 1050, which are included in both the sceneinformation 600(1) and the scene information 600(2) and in which theitem 600E associated with the characteristic information is “the camerashake with a vibration of 8 or more” (i.e. cw=shake and Vvar□8), areextracted by the history comparison device 340.

In FIG. 1, the editing result confirmation device 400 is one example ofthe “presenting device” of the present invention. The editing resultconfirmation device 400 is provided with an editing result displaydevice 410 and a reproduction device 420.

The editing result display device 410 graphically displays the sceneinformation (more specifically, the aforementioned different portion orcommon portion) inputted from the editing control device 300 (morespecifically, the history comparison device 340), as the editing result,on the screen of a display owned by the editing result confirmationdevice 400 or externally provided.

The reproduction device 420 is adapted to reproduce the scenecorresponding to the different portion or common portion of the sceneinformation. In other words, the reproduction device 420 is adapted toread the video data of the scene corresponding to the different portionor common portion of the scene information from the video data storagedevice 100 and to reproduce it.

FIG. 7 is a view showing one example of the display by the editingresult display device.

As shown in FIG. 7, on a display screen 700 on which the editing resultis displayed by the editing result display device 410, there aredisplayed a video display area 701, a first scene information displaydevice 710, a second scene information display device 720, a scaledevice 730, a reproduction position display 740, a scene informationselection button 780, and a confirmation method selection button 790.

In the video display area 701, the scene reproduced by the reproductiondevice 420 is displayed.

The first scene information display device 710 displays the position inthe entire video of the scene without the characteristics which matchthe characteristics identified by the user as the editing target (i.e.the scene that is not identified by the user), from the video associatedwith the video data. The first scene information display device 710 isdisplayed in a rectangular shape as a whole, and an unidentified partdisplay 760 which shows the position of the scene that is not identifiedby the user is displayed in the rectangle.

The second scene information display device 720 displays the position inthe entire video of the scene with the characteristics which match thecharacteristics identified by the user as the editing target (i.e. thescene that is identified by the user), from the video associated withthe video data. The second scene information display device 720 isdisplayed in a rectangular shape as a whole as in the first sceneinformation display device 710, and an identified part display 750 whichshows the position of the scene that is identified by the user isdisplayed in the rectangle.

The identified part display 750 is displayed as a different portiondisplay 771 and a common portion display 772.

The different portion display 771 displays the position of the scenecorresponding to the different portion in which one scene informationand another scene information are different from each other if the userselects the one scene information and the other scene informationincluded in the history 650 of the scene information are selected byusing the scene information selection button 780 described later.

The common portion display 772 displays the position of the scenecorresponding to the common portion in which one scene information andanother scene information are common with each other if the user selectsthe one scene information and the other scene information included inthe history 650 of the scene information are selected by using the sceneinformation selection button 780 described later.

The different portion display 771 and the common portion display 772 aredisplayed in different colors or patterns, which are different from eachother, and this enables the user to distinguish between the differentportion display 771 and the common portion display 772.

More specifically, for example, if the user selects the sceneinformation 600(1) and the scene information 600(2) in the history 650of the scene information shown in FIG. 6, the different portion display771 displays the portion with a frame number of the start frame of 600and with a frame number of the end frame of 700, which is the differentportion and in which the item 600E associated with the characteristicinformation is “the zoom with a speed of 6 or more” (i.e. cw=Zoom andVave□6), and the common portion display 772 displays the portion with aframe number of the start frame of 200 and with a frame number of theend frame of 400 and the portion with a frame number of the start frameof 900 and with a frame number of the end frame of 1050, which are thecommon portion and in which the item 600E associated with thecharacteristic information is “the camera shake with a vibration of 8 ormore” (i.e. cw=shake and Vvar□8).

As described above, the user can distinguish between the differentportion display 771 and the common portion display 772, so that the usercan easily determine the editing operation to be performed next in orderto obtain the user's desired editing result, for example, on the basisof the different portion display 771 or the common portion display 772.

The scale device 730 is displayed in association with one side of eachrectangle of the first scene information display device 710 and thesecond scene information display device 720, and the entire length ofthe scale device 730 means the length of the entire video associatedwith the video data.

The reproduction position display 740 shows the reproduction position ofthe scene reproduced by the reproduction device 420 (in other words,displayed in the video display area 701). In other words, by thereproduction position display 740 being displaced along the scale device730 in accordance with the reproduction position of the scene reproducedby the reproduction device 420, the user can recognize the reproductionposition.

The scene information selection button 780 is a GUI for the userselecting the scene information to be displayed on the first sceneinformation display device 710 and the second scene information displaydevice 720, from the history 650 of the scene information.

The confirmation method selection button 790 is a GUI for the userselecting a display method of displaying the scene in the video displayarea 701, and the user can select whether all the scenes correspondingto the identified part display 750 are reproduced and displayed or onlythe scene corresponding to the different portion display 771 of theidentified part display 750 is reproduced and displayed. In other words,the confirmation method selection button 790 is provided with selectionbuttons 791 and 792. The display method of reproducing and displayingall the scenes corresponding to the identified part device 750 isselected by pressing the selection button 791, and the display method ofreproducing and displaying only the scene corresponding to the differentportion display 771 of the identified part display 750 is selected bypressing the selection button 792.

Next, the operations of the motion picture editing apparatus in thefirst embodiment will be explained with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9.FIG. 8 and FIG. 9 are flowcharts conceptually showing the operations ofthe motion picture editing apparatus in the first embodiment.Incidentally, FIG. 8 mainly shows the operations associated with thevideo data storage device and the video analysis device in the firstembodiment, and FIG. 9 mainly shows the operations associated with theediting control device and the editing result confirmation device in thefirst embodiment.

Hereinafter, firstly, an explanation will be given on the basicoperations of the motion picture editing apparatus 10 when the useredits the video data. Incidentally, when the user edits the video data,firstly, the operations associated with the video data storage deviceand the video analysis device described later with reference to FIG. 8are performed. Then, the operations associated with the editing controldevice and the editing result confirmation device described later withreference to FIG. 9 are repeated, typically a plurality of times.

In FIG. 8, firstly, the video data is inputted to the video data storagedevice 100 and the video analysis device 200 (step S11). In other words,when the editing operation of editing the video data is started by theuser, the video data is inputted to each of the video data storagedevice 100 and the video analysis device 200. At this time, the videodata storage device 100 accumulates the inputted video data.

Then, the video analysis device 200 analyzes the video data, therebygenerating the characteristic data (step S12). In other words, the videoanalysis device 200 firstly extracts the time information by using thetime information extraction device 210 and analyzes the video data byusing the chromatic characteristic analysis device 220, the luminancecharacteristic analysis device 230, the motion characteristic analysisdevice 240, and the spatial frequency characteristic analysis device250. Then, the video analysis device 200 generates the characteristicdata 50 described above with reference to FIG. 2, on the basis of thetime information extracted by the time information extraction device 210and the analysis results (i.e. the chromatic characteristics, theluminance characteristics, the motion characteristics, and the spatialfrequency characteristics) obtained by analyzing the video data by usingthe chromatic characteristic analysis device 220, the luminancecharacteristic analysis device 230, the motion characteristic analysisdevice 240, and the spatial frequency characteristic analysis device250. The generated characteristic data is accumulated in thecharacteristic data storage device 270.

Then, in FIG. 9, the characteristic specification device 310 generatesthe control data corresponding to the user's editing operation (stepS21). In other words, the characteristic specification device 310generates the control data described above with reference to FIG. 5, onthe basis of the characteristics of the scene to be identified as theediting target, which are inputted by the user through the GUI 70described above with reference to FIG. 3.

Then, the scene identification device 320 identifies the scene with thecharacteristics which match the characteristic information included inthe control data, thereby generating the scene information (step S22).In other words, the scene identification device 320 searches for thecharacteristic data (refer to FIG. 2) accumulated in the characteristicdata storage device 270 in accordance with the characteristicinformation (refer to FIG. 5) included in the control data generated bythe characteristic specification device 310, thereby identifying thescene with the characteristics which match the characteristics specifiedby the characteristic specification device 310.

Then, the history holding device 330 holds the history of the sceneinformation (step S23). In other words, the history holding device 330holds the history 650 of the scene information described above withreference to FIG. 6, thereby saving or managing the scene informationinputted from the scene identification device 320 in inputted order. Inother words, the history holding device 330 applies the editing numberwhich allows the inputted order of the scene information to bedistinguished, to the scene information every time the scene informationgenerated by the scene identification device 320 is inputted.

Then, the history comparison device 340 compares the plurality of piecesof scene information, and it extracts the different portion or commonportion (step S24). In other words, the history comparison device 340extracts the different portion in which the two pieces of sceneinformation are different from each other or the common portion in whichthe two pieces of scene information are common, with regard to the twopieces of scene information specified by the user (e.g. the sceneinformation 600(1) and 600(2)), as described above with reference toFIG. 6.

Then, the editing result display device 410 displays the differentportion or common portion on the screen (step S25). In other words, theediting result display device 410 displays the unidentified part display760 which shows the position in the entire video of the scene that isnot identified by the user, on the first scene information displaydevice 710, and it also displays the identified part display 750 whichshows the position in the entire video of the scene that is specified bythe user, on the second scene information display device 720, asdescribed above with reference to FIG. 7. The editing result displaydevice 410 displays the identified part display 750 as the differentportion display 771 and the common portion display 772. Thus, the usercan distinguish between the different portion and the common portion ofthe specified two scene information by looking at the different portiondisplay 771 and the common portion display 772. Therefore, the user caneasily determine the editing operation to be performed next in order toobtain the user's desired editing result, for example, on the basis ofthe different portion or common portion. As a result, the user caneasily perform the editing operation.

Then, the reproduction device 420 reads the video data corresponding tothe different portion or common portion from the video data storagedevice 100 and reproduces it (step S26). In other words, thereproduction device 420 reproduces the scene corresponding to thedifferent portion or common portion extracted by the history comparisondevice 340 (i.e. the scene corresponding to the different portiondisplay 771 or common portion display 772 described above with referenceto FIG. 7), from the video data accumulated in the video data storagedevice 100, in accordance with the user's instruction. The reproducedvideo is displayed in the video display area 701 on the display screen700 (refer to FIG. 7). Thus, the user can easily judge whether or notthe scene corresponding to the different portion or common portion isthe user's desired scene. At this time, the user can recognize thereproduction position by using the reproduction position display 740(refer to FIG. 7).

After confirming the video displayed in the video display area 701 (i.e.the scene corresponding to the different portion display 771 or commonportion display 772), the user changes the characteristics of the sceneto be identified as the editing target if the editing result is not theuser's desired result, and the user specifies it again by using thecharacteristic specification device 310 (the step S21). The series ofprocesses in the step S21 to the step S25 is repeated until the editingresult matches the user's desired result.

Next, an explanation will be given on one example of the editing resultdisplayed by the editing result display device when the user edits thevideo data by using the motion picture editing apparatus in the firstembodiment, with reference to FIGS. 10 to FIGS. 13. Each of FIGS. 10 toFIGS. 13 are views showing one example of the editing result displayedby the editing result display device when the user edits the video databy using the motion picture editing apparatus in the first embodiment,and (a) in each drawing shows the characteristics specified by thecharacteristic specification device in association with FIG. 3, and (b)shows the editing result displayed by the editing result display devicewhen the characteristics are specified as shown in (a), in associationwith FIG. 7. Moreover, each of FIGS. 10 to FIGS. 13 shows one example ofthe editing result by the editing result display device when thecharacteristics are specified by the characteristic specification devicein this order. Each of FIGS. 10 to FIGS. 13 corresponds to theoperations associated with the editing control device and the editingresult confirmation device described above with reference to FIG. 9.

As shown in FIG. 10, if the user does not input the check mark 77 in anyof the check boxes 76 of the GUI 70 (refer to FIG. 3) (i.e. if thecharacteristics are not specified by the characteristic specificationdevice 310), the unidentified part display 760 is displayed in theentire rectangle of the first scene information display device 710 suchthat it is indicated to the first scene information display device 710on the display screen 700 that the entire video is the scene without thecharacteristics which match the characteristics identified as theediting target. In other words, the identified part display 750 (referto FIG. 7) is not displayed on the second scene information displaydevice 720.

Incidentally, in the examples in FIGS. 10 to FIGS. 13, a buttonassociated with the “latest” of the scene information selection buttons780 is selected, and the scene information associated with the latestediting operation by the user and the scene information associated withthe editing operation immediately before the latest editing operationare selected as the scene information to be displayed on the first sceneinformation display device 710 and the second scene information displaydevice 720. Moreover, a button associated with a “changed part” of theconfirmation method selection button 790 (i.e. the selection button 792described above with reference to FIG. 7) is selected, and the displaymethod of reproducing and displaying only the scene corresponding to thedifferent portion display 771 is selected.

Then, as shown in FIGS. 11, if the user inputs the check mark 77 in thecheck box 76 corresponding to the “camera shake” (i.e. the “camerashake” is specified with the level thereof by the characteristicspecification device 310 as the type of the characteristics and if the“scene deletion” is performed), the identified part display 750 whichshows the position (i.e. the start and end time points of the scene) ofthe scene with the characteristics which match the specifiedcharacteristics (i.e. the scene including the “camera shake” with ahigher level than the specified level) is displayed on the second sceneinformation display device 720.

Here, in FIGS. 10, there is no scene with the characteristics whichmatch the characteristics identified as the editing target as describedabove (i.e. the identified part display 750 is not displayed). Thus, theidentified part display 750 is displayed as the different portiondisplay 771 in FIGS. 11.

Moreover, the scene corresponding to the different portion display 771is reproduced by the reproduction device 420 and displayed in the videodisplay area 701. Thus, the user can easily perform the operation ofconfirming the scene identified as the editing target. In other words,by displaying the scene corresponding to the different portion display771 in the video display area 701, it is possible to easily confirm thedifference (in other words, the changed part) between the editing resultby the latest editing operation and the editing result by the editingoperation immediately before the latest editing operation; namely, it ispossible to reduce the time required for the confirmation of the editingresult, in comparison with a case where the user confirms all the editedvideo at each time of the editing operation.

Then, as shown in FIG. 12, if the user inputs the check marks 77 in thecheck boxes 76 corresponding to the “camera shake” and the “zoom speed”and presses the editing button 71 (i.e. when the “camera shake” and the“zoom speed” are specified with the level thereof by the characteristicspecification device 310 as the type of the characteristics and if the“scene deletion” is performed), the identified part display 750 whichshows the position of the scene with the characteristics which match thespecified characteristics (i.e. the scene including the “camera shake”with a higher level than the specified level and the scene including the“zoon speed” with a higher level than the specified level) is displayedon the second scene information display device 720. Here, in particular,the identified part display 750 is displayed as the different portiondisplay 771 and the common portion display 772. In other words, of theidentified part display 750, the identified part display 750 showing thescene that is the same as the scene identified in FIG. 11 is displayedas the common portion display 772, and the identified part display 750showing the scene that is different from the scene identified in FIG. 11is displayed as the different portion display 771. Namely, the sceneincluding the “camera shake” with a higher level than the levelspecified in FIG. 12 is displayed as the common portion display 772because it is the same as the scene identified in FIG. 11, and the sceneincluding the “zoom speed” with a higher level than the level specifiedin FIG. 12 is displayed as the different portion display 771 because itis different from the scene identified in FIG. 11. Thus, the user canrecognize, by looking at the different portion display 771, the sceneadded as the target of the “scene deletion” by adding the “zoom speed”in addition to the “camera shake” as the characteristics of the scene inFIG. 12 after identifying the “camera shake” as the characteristics ofthe scene in FIG. 11. Moreover, the scene corresponding to the differentportion display 771 is reproduced by the reproduction device 420 anddisplayed in the video display area 701. Thus, the user can confirm onlythe scene corresponding to the different portion display 771, and theuser can reduce the time and energy or effort required for the editingoperation. In other words, in FIGS. 12, the user can omit theconfirmation of the scene corresponding to the common portion display772 showing the same scene as the scene identified in FIG. 11.

Then, as shown in FIG. 13, if the user inputs the check marks 77 in thecheck boxes 76 corresponding to the “camera shake” and the “zoom speed”,specifies the level of the “camera shake” with a higher value than thelevel of the “camera shake” specified in FIG. 12, and presses theediting button 71, the identified part display 750 which shows theposition of the scene with the characteristics which match the specifiedcharacteristics is displayed on the second scene information displaydevice 720. Here, in particular, the identified part display 750 isdisplayed as the common portion display 772 showing the scene that isthe same as the scene identified in FIG. 12. Moreover, one portion 760 aof the unidentified part display 760 is displayed as the differentportion display 771 showing the scene that is not identified in FIG. 13,of the scene identified in FIG. 12. Thus, the user can recognize, bylooking at the different portion display 771 (in other words, the oneportion 760 a of the unidentified part display 760), the scene removedfrom the scene that is the target of the “scene deletion” and that isidentified in FIG. 12 by specifying the level of the “camera shake” witha higher value as the characteristics of the scene in FIG. 13. Moreover,the scene corresponding to the different portion display 771 isreproduced by the reproduction device 420 and displayed in the videodisplay area 701. Thus, the user can confirm only the scenecorresponding to the different portion display 771, and the user canreduce the time and energy or effort required for the editing operation.In other words, by confirming only the scene with the characteristicswhich match the added characteristics, the user can reduce the time andenergy required for the editing, in comparison with the case where theuser confirms all the edited video. Here, if the user confirms only thescene with the characteristics which match the added characteristics,the user remembers the previous editing result to the extent that theuser can judge whether or not the editing result is the user's desiredresult. Thus, by confirming only the scene with the characteristicswhich match the added characteristics, the user can determine theediting operation to be performed next in order to obtain the user'sdesired editing result.

Next, with reference to FIGS. 14 and FIGS. 15, an explanation will begiven on another example of the editing result displayed by the editingresult display device when the user edits the video data by using themotion picture editing apparatus in the first embodiment. Each of FIG.14 and FIG. 15 are views showing one example of the editing resultdisplayed by the editing result display device when the user edits videodata by using the motion picture editing apparatus in the firstembodiment, and (a) in each drawing shows the characteristics specifiedby the characteristic specification device, and (b) shows the editingresult displayed by the editing result display device when thecharacteristics are specified as shown in (a), in association with FIG.7. Moreover, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show another example of the editingresult by the editing result display device when the characteristics arespecified by the characteristic specification device in this order. Eachof FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 corresponds to the operations associated with theediting control device and the editing result confirmation devicedescribed above with reference to FIG. 9.

Incidentally, in the examples in FIG. 14 and FIG. 15, the buttonassociated with the “latest” of the scene information selection buttons780 is selected, and the scene information associated with the latestediting operation by the user and the scene information associated withthe editing operation immediately before the latest editing operationare selected as the scene information to be displayed on the first sceneinformation display device 710 and the second scene information displaydevice 720. Moreover, the button associated with the “changed part” ofthe confirmation method selection button 790 (i.e. the selection button792 described above with reference to FIG. 7) is selected, and thedisplay method of reproducing and displaying only the scenecorresponding to the different portion display 771 is selected.

As shown in FIG. 14, in the editing of the video data, firstly, if theuser inputs the check mark 77 in the check box 76 corresponding to the“camera shake”, the identified part display 750 showing the position ofthe scene with the characteristics which match the specifiedcharacteristics is displayed on the second scene information displaydevice 720. At this time, the identified part display 750 is displayedas the different portion display 771.

As shown in FIGS. 15, if the user inputs the check mark 77 in the checkbox 76 corresponding to the “camera shake”, specifies the level of the“camera shake” with a lower level than the level specified in FIGS. 14,and presses the editing button 71, the identified part display 750showing the position of the scene with the characteristics which matchthe specified characteristics is displayed on the second sceneinformation display device 720. At this time, the identified partdisplay 750 is displayed as the common portion display 772 showing thescene that is the same as the scene identified in FIG. 14 and thedifferent portion display 771 showing the scene that is different fromthe scene identified in FIG. 14. Here, in particular, the differentportion display 771 is displayed as a first display 771 a, which showsthe position of the scene with the level of the “camera shake”relatively close to the specified level, and a second display 771 b,which shows the position of the scene with the level of the “camerashake” relatively far from the specified level. Thus, by the userselectively reproducing the scene corresponding to the first display 771a or second display 771 b by using the reproduction device 420 anddisplaying it in the video display area 701, the user can confirm theediting result, more quickly. In other words, the user can omit theconfirmation of the scene corresponding to the first display 771 a orsecond display 771 b. In particular, by confirming the scenecorresponding to the first display 771 a, i.e. the scene with the levelof the “camera shake” relatively close to the specified level, the usercan easily judge whether the level of the “camera shake” is appropriate,and also whether to increase or reduce the level of the “camera shake”in the next operation.

The present invention can be also applied to a HDD recorder, DVDrecorder, video editing software, video-editing-function cam recorder,or the like, in addition to the motion picture editing apparatusexplained in the aforementioned embodiment.

The present invention is not limited to the aforementioned examples, butvarious changes may be made, if desired, without departing from theessence or spirit of the invention which can be read from the claims andthe entire specification. A motion picture editing apparatus and amotion picture editing method, all of which involve such changes, arealso intended to be within the technical scope of the present invention.

1-8. (canceled)
 9. A motion picture editing apparatus comprising: amotion picture analyzing device for analyzing a motion picture, therebyobtaining characteristics of the motion picture; a specifying devicecapable of specifying characteristics of a scene to be identified as anediting target, of the motion picture; an identifying device foridentifying a scene with characteristics which match the specifiedcharacteristics of the motion picture, as the editing target; apresenting device for presenting scene information including start andend time points of the identified scene of the motion picture; a historyholding device for holding a history of the scene information associatedwith the identified scene; and a comparing device for comparing at leasttwo pieces of scene information included in the held history, therebyextracting a different portion in which the at least two pieces of sceneinformation are different from each other or a common portion in whichthe at least two pieces of scene information are common with each other.10. The motion picture editing apparatus according to claim 9, whereinthe motion picture analyzing device comprises at least one ofcharacteristic analyzing devices which are: a chromatic characteristicanalyzing device for analyzing chromatic characteristics in each of aplurality of frames which constitute the motion picture; a luminancecharacteristic analyzing device for analyzing luminance characteristicsin each of the plurality of frames which constitute the motion picture;a motion characteristic analyzing device for analyzing motioncharacteristics in each of the plurality of frames which constitute themotion picture; and a spatial frequency characteristic analyzing devicefor analyzing spatial frequency characteristics in each of the pluralityof frames which constitute the motion picture.
 11. The motion pictureediting apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the specifying devicecan specify a type and level of the characteristics of the scene to beidentified, and the identifying device judges whether or not thecharacteristics of the specified type match the specifiedcharacteristics on the basis of the specified level.
 12. The motionpicture editing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the presentingdeice has a reproducing device for reproducing the identified scene. 13.The motion picture editing apparatus according to claim 9, wherein thepresenting deice has a reproducing device for reproducing a scenecorresponding to the different portion or the common portion.
 14. Amotion picture editing method comprising: a motion picture analyzingprocess of analyzing a motion picture, thereby obtaining characteristicsof the motion picture; a specifying process of specifyingcharacteristics of a scene to be identified as an editing target, of themotion picture; an identifying process of identifying a scene withcharacteristics which match the specified characteristics of the motionpicture, as the editing target; a presenting process of presenting sceneinformation including start and end time points of the identified sceneof the motion picture; a history holding process of holding a history ofthe scene information associated with the identified scene; and acomparing process of comparing at least two pieces of scene informationincluded in the held history, thereby extracting a different portion inwhich the at least two pieces of scene information are different fromeach other or a common portion in which the at least two pieces of sceneinformation are common with each other.
 15. A computer-readable mediumcontaining a computer program for making a computer function as: amotion picture analyzing device for analyzing a motion picture, therebyobtaining characteristics of the motion picture; a specifying devicecapable of specifying characteristics of a scene to be identified as anediting target, of the motion picture; an identifying device foridentifying a scene with characteristics which match the specifiedcharacteristics of the motion picture, as the editing target; apresenting device for presenting scene information including start andend time points of the identified scene of the motion picture; a historyholding device for holding a history of the scene information associatedwith the identified scene; and a comparing device for comparing at leasttwo pieces of scene information included in the held history, therebyextracting a different portion in which the at least two pieces of sceneinformation are different from each other or a common portion in whichthe at least two pieces of scene information are common with each other.16. The motion picture editing apparatus according to claim 9, whereinthe presenting device further presents the different portion or thecommon portion.
 17. The motion picture editing method according to claim14, wherein the presenting process further presents the differentportion or the common portion.
 18. The computer-readable mediumaccording to claim 15, wherein the presenting device further presentsthe different portion or the common portion.